Glossary

A

The Association for Advancement in International Education is based in the United States, and provides a forum for discussion and international education research for schools.

AAIEP

The American Association of Intensive English Programs has nearly 300 members offering intensive English-language programmes located in university and college settings or city centres across the U.S.

ABLS

The Association of British Language Schools is the only association in the U.K. EFL industry that specifically promotes the interests of private and independent sector providers.

Academic Credit

Academic credit provides exemption from enrolment in a particular part of a course as a result of previous academic study.

Accommodation Advisors

Accommodation Advisors generally work within student support offices and advise both domestic and international students on their options for accommodation.

ACPET

The Australian Council for Private Education and Training is an international industry association for independent providers of post-compulsory education and training. ACPET has over 1,100 members with nearly 600 delivering courses to overseas students in Australia.

Australian Education International is part of the Australian Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations (formerly known as DEST). It manages international education operations at a government level as well as administering national legislation.

AILIA

The Association de l´Industrie de la Langue/Language Industry Association is a non-profit association whose mission is to promote and increase the competitiveness of the Canadian language industry. AILIA includes stakeholders from three sectors: translation, language training, and language technologies.

AIRC

The American International Recruitment Council is a non-profit Standards Development Organisation (SDO) controlled by United States-accredited educational institutions.

APAIE

The Asia Pacific Association for International Education is an international non-profit organisation whose goal is to activate and reinforce the internationalisation of higher education in the Asia Pacific region and around the world.

AQTF

The Australian Quality Training Framework is the national framework which regulates quality in the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system.

A.S.I.L.S.

The Association of Schools of Italian as a Second Language has member schools in various Italian regions.

Assessment Levels

The government of a destination country may assess applications for visas, and in particular student visas, on the basis of a student's country of origin. The assessment levels are based on the statistics of how previous students from their country (of origin) comply with their visa conditions.

B

BETA

The British Educational Travel Association is the umbrella body representing producers and of youth, student, and education travel-related products throughout the U.K.

Bologna Process

The Bologna Process created the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by standardising academic degrees throughout Europe (i.e., three-year bachelor's, two-year master's, and three to five-year doctorate programme). This has made it easier for European students to travel to other European countries to further their education, since their qualifications are recognised and accepted. The Bologna Process was named after the Italian city where it was first proposed and is based on cooperation between ministries, higher education institutions, students, and staff from 47 countries, with the participation of international organisations.

Bridging Programmes

Bridging programmes are short courses aimed to cover the gaps between a student's existing knowledge and that required by a further course of study.

British Council

The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international cultural relations body connecting the U.K. to the world and the world to the U.K.

C

Campus

A campus is the facility or site of an education provider where classroom-based teaching or workplace training occurs.

Campus France

Campus France is the French national agency for promoting French higher education abroad.

Confirmation of Enrolment

A Confirmation of Enrolment is a document issued by an education institution as evidence of enrolment for international students. It must accompany students' application for a student visa.

Competency

Competency is the ability to perform tasks and duties to the standards expected in employment.

Course

A course of education or training, usually consisting of a number of modules, subjects, or units, and leading to the award of a qualification.

Course Money

Course money is money an education institution receives from an international student or prospective international student for a course or programme.

Crisis Management

Crisis management refers to the management policies and procedures which are in place in the event of a crisis.

Critical Incident

A critical incident is a traumatic threat or event which causes extreme stress or fear.

D

DAAD

The German Academic Exchange Service is a German funding organisation supporting the international exchange of students and scholars, with a network of 14 regional offices and 50 information centres worldwide.

Distance Education

Distance education describes study in which teachers and students are separated in time and/or space throughout the duration of the unit of study.

E

EAIE

The European Association for International Education is a non-profit membership organisation of 1,800 international education professionals – from rectors to professors to international exchange coordinators.

EAQUALS

The European Association for Quality Language Services offers the only international accreditation service for language teaching and training organisations of all kinds, with over 100 full members in 20 countries.

EATC

The Education Agent Training Course is an online training course specifically designed for education agents who recruit and advise students to study in Australia.

Education Agent

An education agent represents a registered provider to prospective overseas students via marketing, promotion, and provision of services.

Education Provider

An education provider is an organisation or person in a destination country which provides courses to international students.

Education New Zealand

Education New Zealand is a not-for-profit charitable trust which is governed by the New Zealand export education industry.

EDUITALIA

EDUITALIA is an association of Italian universities and schools located in Italy which facilitates students and researchers wanting to study in Italy. Their goal is to promote courses available in Italian schools and universities, and to encourage the increase of foreign students in these institutions.

Edu Nova

EduNova is a co-operative industry association of education and training providers in Nova Scotia, Canada, with the mandate of raising the profile of Nova Scotia’s education and training programmes abroad.

EFL

English as a Foreign Language.

EFTSL

Equivalent Full Time Study Load is an equivalent full-time student load for a year.

Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment

See Confirmation of Enrolment.

English Australia

English Australia (EA) is the national peak body and professional association for providers offering English-language courses to international students, representing more than 100 colleges offering quality language programmes and associated services across Australia.

English New Zealand

English New Zealand is a group of well-established, quality English-language schools located across New Zealand. Member schools offer quality English-language tuition, teacher training, and pathways into universities, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions in New Zealand.

English UK

English UK is a British-language teaching association with over 400 British Council-accredited members, including private language schools, educational trusts and charities, and language centres in further education colleges and universities.

Enrolment

Enrolment is the registration of a person with an education provider for the purpose of undertaking a course or module.

ESL

English as a Second Language.

Exhibition

Hosted by a range of public and private organisations and education providers, exhibitions showcase programmes, courses, and universities for a specific nation or area.

F

FEDELE

The Spanish Federation of Associations of Spanish Schools for Foreigners has over 80 member schools throughout Spain teaching Spanish to foreigners.

FELTOM

The Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta is a self-regulating association of the major schools in Malta officially recognised by the Maltese Ministries of Education and Tourism.

FLE.fr

The Agency for promoting French as a Foreign Language in France has over 30 member language centres specialised in teaching French to foreigners.

Foundation Studies

Foundation studies are bridging or pathway programmes that students undertake before entering undergraduate studies.

G

Goethe Institut

The Goethe Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institution, with a worldwide network of Goethe Instituts Goethe Centres, cultural societies, reading rooms, and exam and German-language learning centres.

Grievance Procedures

Grievance procedures are formal policies and procedures in place to deal with staff or student complaints within and outside an organisation.

Guardianship

Guardianship refers to arrangements which must be in place to monitor welfare and accommodation for international students under the age of majority.

Guardianship Visa

A guardianship visa is issued to a blood relative of an underage international student.

H

Higher Education

Higher education is education provided by a university or other recognised higher education provider, leading to the award of a degree or higher-level qualification.

Home Stay

Home stay is accommodation in a private home. It is the preferred form of accommodation for younger international students, and those wishing to become familiar with family life in the destination country.

I – L

IALC

The International Association of Language Centres is a network of over 90 quality-assured private, independent language schools teaching their native language to foreign students in 21 countries worldwide.

IAP

An Introductory Academic Programme is a preparation programme designed for international students who are proposing to take up on-campus undergraduate or post-graduate studies.

IB

International Baccalaureate is an educational programme which is recognised internationally as the final year of secondary schooling. Many schools offer IB as an option to their final-year students.

IBTs

Institutes of Business and Technology are privately owned colleges which offer preparatory courses to assist students in pathways to university.

IELTS

The International English Language Testing System is an internationally owned and globally recognised English-language assessment available throughout the world.

Instituto Cervantes

The Instituto Cervantes is the Spanish official cultural entity dedicated to promoting the Spanish language and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries, with over 70 centres on four continents.

Intermission

Intermission is the period of allowable leave of absence during an international student's course of study.

International Student Advisors

International Student Advisors provide advice services and programmes to ensure the wellbeing, cultural, and academic adjustment of international students.

Invigilation

Invigilation means keeping watch over examination candidates to prevent cheating. In the context of the IATC, invigilation is also the process of guiding participants through the online formal assessment process. The person who invigilates the formal assessment is referred to as an "invigilator."

IPSEA

IPSEA represents an association of public schools in British Columbia. These schools welcome international students and offer a guarantee of quality education to them.

ISANA

ISANA: International Education Association is the representative body for international education professionals in Australia and New Zealand who work in student services, advocacy, teaching, and policy development.

ISLPR

The International Second Language Proficiency Rating is a scale which describes the development of second- or foreign-language proficiency in adolescent and adult learners.

Italian in Italy

Italian in Italy is an association of privately owned independent schools teaching Italian language and culture to students from all over the world.

Languages Canada

Languages Canada strives to promote Canada as a destination for both international and Canadian students wishing to study English or French as a second language.

M – N

MEI–RELSA

MEI–RELSA is an association of 64 high quality English-language Schools delivering language courses in over 120 locations around Ireland.

NAFSA

NAFSA: Association of International Educators is a professional association based in the United States which promotes the exchange of students and scholars, and provides professional education and training to people working in international education.

O

Offshore Students

Offshore students are enrolled in an education institution but study in overseas locations or campuses.

Onshore Students

Students who are studying at educational providers within a destination country.

Overseas Student

See International Student.

P – Q

Participation

The international student’s involvement in the required learning and assessment activities of a course.

PIER

Professional International Education Resources is an entity created by International Education Services Ltd to provide resources and training courses for practitioners working in international education.

Plagiarism

The illegal and non-attributed copying of another's work and claiming it as one's own.

Pre-departure Programmes

Programmes created for students going to study overseas in order to prepare them for their arrival and to study overseas.

Pre-visa Assessment

This is a process students from high-risk countries may have to undertake before being approved for a student visa.

Quality English

Quality English is committed to promoting high-quality English-language schools and their courses to international students.

R

Recruitment

The pre-enrolment processes of engaging and assisting international students to apply for a place in a course.

RPL

Recognition of Prior Learning involves the assessment of previously unrecognised skills and knowledge that an individual has achieved outside the formal education and training system.

S

SARS

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome was first recognised in China in 2002 and became a global health threat in mid-March 2003.

Scholarship

A non-repayable sum of money awarded to a student to help finance further education.

SOUFFLE

SOUFFLE is an association of 19 French-language centres located in France, Switzerland, and Monaco, committed to a common charter of quality and guaranteeing the best quality instruction of French as a Foreign Language (FLE).

Statement of Attainment

A Statement of Attainment recognises that a person has achieved a certain level of proficiency.

Student Contact Officer

A Student Contact Officer is an employee of an education institution whose skill, knowledge, and expertise allows him/her to provide advice to international students on a range of matters.

Student Support

Student support refers to the services offered to students when they enrol with an education institution. Support includes social, emotional and cultural advice, specialist services, and programmes.

Study Period

A study period is a discrete period of study: term, semester, trimester, or short course.

T

TESL

Teaching of English as a Second Language.

TESOL

Teachers of English to speakers of Other Languages.

TOEFL

Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Tourist Visa

A tourist visa is issued to visitors to a country for purposes of recreation, holiday, and social reasons. Tourist visa holders may be permitted to study for a short period.

Travel Advisories

Travel advisories are travel warnings to assist and alert travellers about possible risks while travelling.

U

UCIEP

The UCIEP is an independent consortium of university and college-administered Intensive English programmes with members all over the United States.

UMAP

University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific is an organisation which aims to achieve enhanced international understanding through increased mobility of university students and staff.

Underage Students

The term "underage" in educational settings usually refers to a student who is a minor.

Undergraduate

A student completing a bachelor's degree programme at a university; the first degree a student will do after high school, and necessary to undertake post-graduate studies.

Unit

A unit is the common name given to a discrete component of study within a course; the term includes "subject" and "module."

Universitas 21

Universitas 21 is an international network of leading research-intensive universities.

V – Z

VET

Vocational Education and Training is the sector of an education system which deals with training and vocational education. Also Vocational and Technical Education (VTE).

Visa

A visa is a document, whether electronic or paper in nature, which an individual needs to enter into or travel to another country.